Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-19
Progress i'm New Mexico.

FONTS FROM THE ANNUAL BEPORT OF GOV. ROSS
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED.
Edmund G. Ross, the governor OF New Mexico
In his annual report to the Secretary of the In.
terror upon the affairs OF the Territory during the
past year, states that there has been marked in.
crease in the population during the past few years
The semi-duennial census OF 1885 shows popula.
latiOn OF 1884, 141, gain o. $40 in five years and
the governor Is Of the opinion that nearly that
number In addition has been added during the
past TWO years. At the present rate the census OF
1870 VIII show population OF not less than
100000. The rate OF Taxation for all purposes is
less than2 per cent. The report states that the
method or assessment of the tax and the collection
Is very imperfect, and on this account, as well as
on account OF the increasing expenditures, the
Territory is falling into debt, a condition which
can be corrected only by Congressional sanction OF
special session OF the Territorial legislature con-
vened for that purpose. The report says that dur
ing the first half OF the fiscal year 141 entries OF
public lands, aggregating 15a, 500 acres, were
made. 1t Is preSumabe that these entries were
made with view to settlement.
The governor reneWS his former recOmmenda-
tiOn that the bill adopted by the House of Repre-
sentattves at the last session Of Congress for the
settlement OF titles to land In Spanish and Mexican
owing to the occupation Of the lands for agricul-
tura1 purposes the great cattle ranches are being
gradually but surely c1rcumscrtbed and dimin-
ished. "'rhe cattle man OF the past" con-
tinues the report, "and the granger of the
present represent two antagonist1c classes OF
civilization One is nomadic and type OF
semi-barbaric isolation, the other typihes and
includes the school, the factory and the
active element OF human civilization and progress.
There can be incorporation but only friction be-
tween them when found in proximity" The gov-
ernOr thinks that 1T is only 4 question Of time
when the cattle ranch will be thing OF the past.
He, therefore, opposes any change in the land
laws in the interest OF this industry which is in its
nature inlm1cal to the developement OF the Terri
tory, and would only serve to give 1T a few addi-
t1ona years OF existence when IL must give way TO
the conditions OF Il settled agricultural life. He
recommends the repeal OF all laws that now exist
In the shape OF tlmDer-cuiture and desert-iand
acts scrip entries and all other measures whereby
lands may be secured without actual residence
and bona tde valuable Improvements.
The only railroad construction that has taken
place during the year, continues the report, Is
:3S miles OF the Texas Santa Fe and Northern
Narrow Guage Railroad, from ESnanola, In Rio
Arr1ba County, the temporary termination of the
ID tnver and Rio Grande, to Santa Fe. The report
states that The mining industry of the Terri
tory has taken On new and improved con-
ditons since the last annual report. There is less
speculative activity, but more substantial develop
ment. The average output OF gold and silver for
1886 is given as S. $50 900, divided between gold
and silver in the proportion OF one to five. New
and important discoveries have been made, says
the report, On both the north and south Percha
The report states that the effect OF the cOmpul.
sorry school law passed by the last legislature has
been good and has resulted in the increase of pub
lie schools. The Catholic Church supports ffteen
schools; the Congregational Church four; the
presbyterian Church three, and the Methodist
Church